Clutch.



A. P. BRUSH.

CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1. 1914.

1 ,1 58,629. Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I AQa/vra/v P B uavv, W BY A TTOR/VEZS COLUMBIA PLANOGRAFH g0 WASHINGTON, n. c,

A. P. BRUSH.

CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED IuIIE I. I914.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- BV WW Anvil/M WW ATTORNEYS by a universal joint.

meteor ease. o careers. MIQHIG AN GLUTCH- Specification 61? Letters Patent.

h mmed o 1 Application filed June 1, 1914. SerialNo. 842,118.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known. that I, ALANSON P. BRUSH, a citizen of the United States of America. residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigamhave invented certain new and useful Improyements in Clutches, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad thereinito the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to clutches particularly designed for use .upon motor vehicles and comprises'various features of construe tion as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings: Figure l is a longitudinal section through the clutch; Fig. .2 isa cross section substantially on line a21w' Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and 4 are cross sections respectively on line and z.eFig. 1;Fi g.;5 is a section on line w-av, showing the means for breaking the adhesion of. the clutch; Fig. .6 is a View at right angles toFig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a cross section on line 21- 0 Fig. 1. V

A and B are. the cotiperating members of a cone clutch, C is a spindle secured. toland extending axially'f'rom the :member A, and D is a hub for the member B which slidablv engages thespindle C and forms a housing for the clutch-engaging spring E. Thefhub D is provided with an inwardly-extending flange F forming one bearing upon the spindle and also an abutment for the spring vE.

Gr is .a disk or collar secured to theouter end of the spindle, forming an opposite abutment for "the'spring and also a second bearing for the slidable hub.

H is an anti-friction ballthrust bearing arranged intermediatefthe collar Grand the spring, and I isabushing within the hub whigl'forms a bearing for engaging the collar a l For engaging and disengaging the clutch and also for transmitting the-power, the member B is attached to a longitudinallyadjustjable spline shaft ,J, which latter is connected with the power transmission shaft for connection with the drive axle. To provide for any lack of perfect. alinement in the' shafts, or for any movement which would throw them out of aline nent. I have connected the shaft J to the hub D Th s pr fera lv formed by a spherical portion K at the end of the shaft J, which engages aspherical socket cap L connected with the hub D. a

The cap is secured to the hub by a threaded sleeve M,Ian'd the torque'is transmitted from one member to the other through intermesh mg aws N '1 and 'N" formed thereon. For transmitting-the torque from the cap L to the shaft'J and at the same time providing for the limited universal, pivotal movement, the spherical p'ortion"K terminates in a toothed" flange O which engages a complementary internally toothed socket in the cap. Thus the rotary mbtion from the clutch will be transmitted through the hub D to the cap L from the latter to the shaft J. and at thesametime said shaft isfree to have'a limited lateral movement out of true axial falinement with the spindle'C.

For securing thecoll'ar G upon the spindle C, theformer ispre'ferably provided with areeess P for receiving a circular key member Q." This member is transversely slotted to form parallel sides for embracing the spindle C "and engaging slots Rltherein, and when once in engagement the tension of the spring E 'wi llhold thecollar G against the key so as to retain the latter in the circular recessP. This will preclude any accidental displacement of the parts and at the same time will :permit of readily detaching the same when 'necessary' It is "desirable that the housing for the spring and thrust bearing should be oil proof and to accomplish this'purpose the bushing I'has a shoulderedengagement with the cap memberand hub member D, so that when the threaded sleeve M is tightened a sealed joint is formed. Leakage of the oil from the cap is prevented by reason of the fact that. .the oil .is held by centrifugal action adjacent to the periphery of the hub, while the opening in the cap through which the shaft p'assesis adjacent to the axis of the housing. 7

For releasing the clutch, a suitable operating lever is provided, suchas the pedal S shown in dotted lines Fig. 1. This lever is connected with a rock-shaft T, which operatesa fork embracing the shaft J and engaging a thrust bearing thereon. Inasmuch asthe shaft J is laterally displaceable, I have provided an operating mechanism which will be unaffected by this movement. This comprises a rod U which is, slidablv engaged at one end with a suitable supporting ,bearingon the frame, as indicated at U, while the opposite end of this rod engages a recess in the end of arock-arm T on the rock-shaft T.

V is the fork which is mounted upon the rod U, preferably by a screw thread engagement, and projects therefrom so as to em brace the shaft J and to bear against a thrust collar W thereon. The fork V may be adjusted longitudinally upon the rod U by rotating the latter which will cause a travel upon a screw-threaded portion, While a clamping screw V will serve to hold the fork from accidental adjustment. The thrust collar W is formed by aseries of integral flanges W on the shaftJ, which engage segments W and W .,intermesh1ng therewith. The segments are held in engagement by an outer sleeve W having an end portion W against which the fork V bears. Thus, in addition to its function of an actuating member the'fork V operates as a retainer to hold the sleeve W in engagement with the segments W and W It is usual to provide cone clutches with a facing of yieldable material such as leather, and it is also customary to provide means, such for instance as a spring, be-

neath the leather for softening the engagement of the clutch, this being commonly known as an easement. My improved clutch is provided with a novel construction of easement which is simple and inexpensive in construction and which does not produce a localized wearing of the leather facing,

as is the case with manyconstructions heretofore used.

As shown in Figs- 5 and 6, X is a disk of thereby forming the easement or softening engagement. It also facilitates disengagement of the clutch by breaking the adhesion. Furthermore, this is accomplished without local wear upon the leather, as the disk is preferably full width of the leather facing and in the relative rotation of the clutch members will travel over all portions of the facing. V

For convenience in manufacture the easements X are preferably in the form of circular disks which engage circular recesses X milled or otherwise formed in the face of the member A. Clearance is preferably provided by corin out a portion of the face as' indicated at 2 and this restricts the length of the bearing segments upon opposite sides of the disks, which produces a favorable resilient action.

What'I claimas my invention is 1. In a clutch, the combination with cooperating clutch members having an axial,

slidztbleengagemeritwith each other and means for yieldably engaging said members, of a torque transmission shaft having a universal, pivotal coupling engagement with one of said members and longitudinally adjustable, and means actuating-said housed within said sleeve or hollow hub, a 1

collar on said spindle. forming an abutment for said spring, a shafthavinga universal coupling with said sleeve, constituting a means for transmitting the torque, and a a means actuating said shaft for releasing the: clutch. I l

3. In a clutch, the combination with vcoofierating clutchf members having an axial, s dable engagement with each'other,rof a torque'transmission shaft universally, pivotally connected to oneof said clutch members to provide: for displacementfrom true alinement, an end thrust bearing on said N shaft, and a clutch-releasing member having a lateral, slidable engagement with said end thrust bearing. 7 V

4. The combination with. cooperating clutch members, of a shaft connectedtoone of said members longitudinally adjustable to release the clutch, a rod arranged parallel to said shaft, an arm projectinglaterally from said rod engaging aibearing on said shaft, and a rook-arm engaging the end of said rod to actuate the same for releasing the clutch. Y

5. The combination with cooperating clutch members, of a shaft connected to one of said members, longitudinally adjustable to release the 'clutch, a resilient member for engaging said clutch members, a rod par; allel to said shaft, slidable in a fixed-bean ing at one end, an actuating rock-armengaging the opposite end of said rod, a latersaid arm upon said threaded rod in different positions of adjustment, a fixed bearing in which one end of said rod is slidably secured, and a rock-arm recessed to engage the opposite end of said rod to actuate the same and said lateral]yprojecting arm.

7. In a clutch, the combination with cooperating clutch members, of a shaft coupled to one of said members longitudinally adjustable to release the clutch, a thrust bearing on said shaft formed of complementary segments laterally engageable with a flanged bearing on the shaft, a cupped housing or sleeve for engaging said segments to hold the same in engagement with said shaft, and an arm engaging an end of said cupped housing for actuating said shaft through the medium of said thrust bearing, said arm constituting a retainer for holding said housing from disengagement.

8. The combination with cooperating clutch members, of a hollow hub on one of said members, a spindle projecting from the other member, with which said hollow hub is slidably engaged, a spring housed within said hollow hub, an abutment secured to said spindle for the opposite end of said spring, a shaft in alinement with said spindle having a spherical head, a cap for said hollow hub provided with a spherical socket for engaging said spherical head, and an interlocking engagement between said spherical head and socket permit-ting a limited universal, pivotal movement thereof.

9. The combination with cooperating clutch members, of a spindle upon the one and a hollow hub upon the other longitudinally slidable on said spindle, a spring housed within said hollow hub, an abutment secured to said spindle for the opposite end of said spring, a cap for said hollow hub having a spherical socket, a shaft having a spherical head engaging the socket of said cap, and inter-engaging teeth upon said spherical head and socket.

10. The combination with cooperating clutch members, of a spindle projecting axially from one member, a hollow hub upon the other member forming a housing surrounding said spindle and having a hearing at its inner end slidable thereon, a collar on the opposite end of said spindle longitudinally fixed thereon and slidably engaging said hollow hub, an anti-friction thrust bearing adjacent to said collar, a spring interposed between said thrust bearing and bearing at the inner end of said hub, a cap for said hollow hub having a spherical socket, and a shaft having a spherical head engaging said spherical socket and having a peripheral toothed engagement therewith.

11. The combination with cooperating clutch members, of a spindle projecting aX- ially from one member, a hollow hub on the opposite member forming a housing surrounding said spindle and provided at its inner end with a bearing slidable thereon, a cap for said hollow hub, a bushing bridging the joint between said cap and hollow hub and having a shouldered engagement therewith, a collar on said spindle slidably engaging said bushing, an anti-friction thrust bearing adjacent to said collar, and a spring interposed between said anti-friction thrust bearing and the hearing at the inner end of said hub.

12. In a clutch, the combination with concentric inner and outer clutch members, of an easement between said members, comprising a resilient plate having a recessed seat in said outer clutch member and normally extending as a chord of an arc of the surface thereof.

13. In a clutch, the combination with inner and outer concentric clutch members having complementary circular friction surfaces, of an easement between said clutch members, comprising a resilient plate engaging a recessed seat in said outer clutch, normally extending as an arc of the friction surface thereof and being flexible to conform to the surface of the adjacent clutch member when the clutch is engaged.

14. In a clutch, the combination with cooperating inner and outer concentric clutch. members, of an easement comprising a flat resilient plate seated in the outer clutch member, extending the full width of the friction face thereof and normally in a place which is a chord of an arc of the surface, said plate being bendable into conformity to the adjacent friction surface when the clutch is engaged. v

15. The combination with cooperating in ner and outer concentric, circular friction clutch members, of a round disk having a recessed seat in the outer clutch member and normally extending across said recess as a chord of the arc surface of said clutch member.

16. The combination with cooperating clutch members, of a spindle upon the one and a hollow hub upon the other, resilient means surrounding said spindle and inclosed within said hollow hub for normally holding said cooperating clutch members together, a cap for said hollow hub provided with an internally-toothed socket, and a shaft havin a spherical portion engaging the socket of said cap, said spherical portion terminating in a complementary toothed flange.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALANSON P. BRUSH.

Witnesses:

JAMES P. BANY, ARTHUR D. PULVER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

